WMF closes Reutlingen branch: sales planned until August!

WMF closes Reutlingen branch: sales planned until August!

The WMF branch in Reutlingen is closing in August, which was announced by large red posters in the window. Angela Nelius, Vice President Retail DACH, confirmed the closure, but did not give a specific reason for it. The decision shows that the branches are regularly checked with regard to their location, visitor frequency and profitability. Closings will only occur if this is unavoidable. The branch in Tübingen was closed about a month ago.

WMF currently operates around 150 branches in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The company, which was founded in 1853, is based in Geislingen an der Steige. WMF has been part of Groupe SEB from France since the end of 2016. Several branches in different cities have already been closed in the last two years. However, Metzingen will remain a WMF location and there are plans to open new locations in 2025 and beyond.

Future of WMF and Groupe SEB

The closure of the Reutlingen branch raises questions about the future direction of WMF. Loud Trend worlds Groupe SEB has decided to merge the corporate structures of WMF GmbH and Groupe SEB Germany. This decision underlines Groupe SEB's long-term commitment to the DACH market, considered the largest market in Europe. The aim is to create a sustainable corporate structure that uses synergies and increases competitiveness. New corporate companies are also to be created.

The headquarters of the Groupe SEB market company will in future be in Geislingen an der Steige. The consumer business and central business functions are to be brought together there. Although individual business activities will remain at the Frankfurt am Main and Munich locations as so-called “satellite hubs”, accounting will be integrated into the international structures of Groupe SEB in Warsaw. The implementation of the new structures is scheduled to be completed by January 2024, with Groupe SEB planning to make the changes socially acceptable for employees.

Customers of the WMF branch in Reutlingen can benefit from discounts in the final sale until it closes in August. After the closure, Outletcity Metzingen remains the only point of contact in the region for WMF products.